ELMHURST CHAMBER WEEK PROMOTION
PRODUCES NEAR RECORD FOR NEW MEMBERS
ELMHURST, Ill., October 17, 2003 – A near record total of 26 businesses and organizations joined the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry last month in conjunction with the 2003 Chamber of Commerce Week (September 14-20) promotion—keeping annual recruitment on pace to surpass 2002’s all-time high of 158 new members.
During the Chamber’s promotion, which ran from September 11-24, new members were given their choice of a 16-month membership (good through 2004) at the annual cost or a 20-percent off the 12-month fee.
Fourteen businesses took the membership extension, while 12 businesses opted for the discounted membership.
Through the first three quarters of 2003, a total of 123 businesses, organizations and individuals have joined the Chamber—surpassing the annual goal of 120 new members for the second year in a row.
“Our annual goal is always a challenge because it requires us to recruit an average of 10 new members per month,” said Chamber President John Quigley, “so, in effect, this past Chamber of Commerce Week promotion is the equivalent of nearly three months worth of successful membership work.”
Also, this year marked the second in a row that the Chamber promotion produced more than 25 new members. In a record-setting 2002, the Chamber recruited 29 of 158 new members as part of Chamber Week. In 2001, the promotion’s first year produced 17 of a then-record 100 new members.
For more information on membership, contact Member Advocate Ann Palumbo at (630) 834-6060 or at annp@elmhurstchamber.org.
Annual fees for Chamber members start at $205.00 for businesses with no more than five full-time employees, $110.00 for not-for-profit businesses with up to 125 full-time employees and $100.00 for charitable organizations, civic clubs and service clubs.
As part of their membership, Chamber members receive free alphabetical and category/subcategory listings plus advertising discounts up to 50 percent in the annual Elmhurst Community Directory and a website listing (www.elmhurstchamber.org) with no-cost internet and e-mail hyperlinks.
“Credit for our membership successes goes to the Board of Directors, Membership Committee and individual members who have assisted the office staff in espousing the many and varied Chamber benefits,” added Quigley.
Cathy Bajkowski, Financial Professional with The MONY Group (700 Commerce Drive, Suite 430, Oak Brook), chairs the Board of Directors and Second Vice Chairman Tom Cathcart, a human resource professional, is chair of the Membership Committee.
Established in 1918, the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry is a voluntary organization of business and professional men and women who have joined together for the purpose of promoting the civic and commercial progress of the community.
The Chamber also serves the needs of its members through services, programs and events that provide opportunities for networking and referral, business education, development and promotion, governmental representation and community involvement.
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